Prime Holding Breaks Ground on First Holiday Inn Express in Central America, the Holiday Inn Express San Jose, Costa Rica / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Prime Holding Breaks Ground on First Holiday Inn Express in Central America, the Holiday Inn Express San Jose, Costa Rica MIAMI - February 21, 2007 - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announced the groundbreaking of the Holiday Inn Express San Jose – Forum in San Jose, Costa Rica, the first Holiday Inn Express in Central America and the third IHG property in the country.  The hotel, which has a projected completion date set for mid March 2008 will be owned by Prime Holding under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group and will be located in t...

HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame Announces Call For 2007 Nominations / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame Announces Call For 2007 Nominations AUSTIN, TEXAS; February 27, 2007 -- Innovative developments and applications in technology have propelled the hospitality industry forward, enhancing guest services and improving management tools. In recognition of the visionaries who develop these instruments and their impact on the hospitality industry, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) established the International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame, the associations highest level of recognition in the area of technol...

New and Upcoming Technologies Needed for GUESTROOM 2010 / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  New and Upcoming Technologies Needed for GUESTROOM 2010 AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 27, 2007) - Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) is conducting a comprehensive global search for the industry's most innovative technologies to be exhibited in GUESTROOM 2010, a model guestroom featuring some of the latest and near-future technologies for the modern hotel room. The 2007 model of GUESTROOM 2010 will be featured in the exhibit hall at the 2007 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC). HITEC 2007 will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in ...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Prestigious Grecotel S.A. Selects Newmarket’s Delphi™ Multi-Property Edition and Delphi Diagrams . Delphi solution will empower luxury hotel chain in Greece to maximise sales and group business Portsmouth, NH -  February 26, 2007 —  Newmarket International, Inc., the leader in sales and catering solutions for the hospitality industry, today announced that Grecotel S.A., the leading Greek hotel group, selected Delphi Multi-Property Edition (MPE) for automating the sales, marketing and catering processes of its properties, and Delphi Diagrams, for space management of floor plans and setup...

Partnership to Create Nikki Beach Hotel on the Top Three Floors of the the Grand Sierra Resort Hotel in Reno, a Hotel Within a Hotel / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Partnership to Create Nikki Beach Hotel on the Top Three Floors of the the Grand Sierra Resort Hotel in Reno, a Hotel Within a Hotel Reno, NV – February 16, 2007 -  Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (“Grand Sierra”) announced that it has teamed up with Nikki Beach, one of the world’s leading lifestyle and entertainment brands identified with the international jet set and the celebrity crowd, to open a variety of Nikki Beach designed, branded, and managed hotel facilities and entertainment venues at the Grand Sierra property in Reno, Nevada.  Initial plans call for a five sta...

GolfSwitch Patent Threatens Tee Time Internet Distribution Monopoly / Brian Cunningham / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report GolfSwitch Patent Threatens Tee Time Internet Distribution Monopoly . By Brian Cunningham, February, 2007   I attended the 2008 PGA show held in Orlando January 17th – 19th. This show is big by anyone’s standards with over 1250 exhibitors, 42 of which are technology vendors. The majority of the technology vendors offer golf course and tournament management solutions. There is also a sprinkling of interesting GPS range finder and instructional aids. I was at the conference shopping for a system on behalf of a client, as well as just keeping up with the latest and greatest.  ...

KPMG: Dubai and Middle East Top the Leader Board for Busiest and Most Profitable Golf Courses as International Golf Boom Continues; Golf Benchmark Sur

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report KPMG: Dubai and Middle East Top the Leader Board for Busiest and Most Profitable Golf Courses as International Golf Boom Continues . Golf Benchmark Survey Summary Report Reveals the Best-performing Golfing Regions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMA) February, 2007 - Golf Courses in the United Arab Emirates are busier and more profitable than those in established European golfing nations such as the UK, Ireland, Spain and Portugal, underlining an ongoing international golf boom. According to the inaugural KPMG Golf Benchmark Survey Summary Report, average revenues at golf courses in...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Pan Pacific Seattle’s Personalized Service Style Made Easy with Help of GoConcierge .. Web-based System Adds Efficiencies to Guest Service Operations SEATTLE— February 6, 2007— At the all new Pan Pacific Seattle, where every employee is considered a personal steward, GoConcierge is making it easy for staff to deliver a five-star level of service. Web-based GoConcierge, the lodging industry’s leading guest service operations system, is produced by Los Angeles-based GoConcierge.net. “Our clientele is mostly business travelers,” says Joan Flake, chef concierge at the 160-room hotel, and ...

Glorietta Bay Inn Wins California Hotel & Lodging Association Award for Best Guest Relations / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Glorietta Bay Inn Wins California Hotel & Lodging Association Award for Best Guest Relations Coronado, California, February 6, 2007 – Glorietta Bay Inn announces its win for best guest relations program in a statewide competition. The award was presented by the California Hotel & Lodging Association in its annual “Stars of the Industry” awards.  The award was presented in Santa Barbara on February 1, 2007. General manager Holly Shumate and sales manager Claudia Ludlow-Gonzales were present to accept the award. This is the sixth time Glorietta Bay Inn has won the award on either a statewi...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online Special Report Global Update: Who’s Where and Doing What February 2007 Heads Above the Rest The Newsletter of The Boutique Search Firm   The Americas Sunstone Hotel Investors has appointed Steven Goldman Chief Executive Officer. Robert Alter will remain as an executive officer during the course of 2007 until his transition to Chairman of the Board. Goldman, a Cornell graduate like Alter, was previously the Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for Global Hyatt Corporation.  Tanya Geller-Franco has joined the Stein Hotel Group as Chief Executive Officer, North America. She com...

Gemstone Resorts International Signs Management Agreements for the Carlton Hotel, Manhattan and The Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C. / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Gemstone Resorts International Signs Management Agreements for the Carlton Hotel, Manhattan and The Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C. Company Changes Name to Gemstone Hotels & Resorts  PARK CITY, Utah, February 8, 2007—Officials of Gemstone Resorts International, LLC, a leading hotel and resort management company, today announced that it has signed management agreements to operate luxury hotels in New York and Washington, D.C.  To reflect significant growth and expansion in urban upscale and luxury boutique hotel management, the company also announced it has changed its ...

Gaylord Entertainment Reports a 4th Qtr 2006 Loss of $93.7 million, Compared with a Loss of $13.1 million for Same Period a Year Ago / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report NASHVILLE, Tenn. February 13, 2007 - Gaylord Entertainment Co. (NYSE: GET) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2006. For the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2006: Consolidated revenue increased 8.4 percent to $239.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 from $220.6 million in the same period last year, led by strong revenue growth in the hospitality segment. For the full year 2006, consolidated revenue increased 9.4 percent to $947.9 million. Loss from continuing operations wa...

Gaylord Proposing $400 million Expansion of at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center; Seeks to Grow Hotel to 3,281 Rooms and

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive  Gaylord Proposing $400 million Expansion of at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center . Seeks to Grow Hotel to 3,281 Rooms and Over 1 million Square Feet of Convention and Meeting Space NASHVILLE, Tenn. - February 12, 2007 - Gaylord Entertainment Company (NYSE: GET) today announced a proposed $400 million expansion of its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center that will add over 400,000 square feet of convention and meeting space and a new 400 room, luxury all-suite hotel adjacent to its current facility. With a proposed completion as early as 201...

The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee Talking Major Expansion; Seeking Tax Dollars for $188 million Addition of 360,000 Sq Ft of

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Daphne Sashin, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.McClatchy-Tribune Business News Feb. 7, 2007 - --KISSIMMEE -- The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center is once again floating the idea of a major expansion subsidized by Osceola's tourists. Resort officials on Tuesday offered an early glimpse of the company's proposal to the Osceola Resort Area Council, the tourism task force of the Kissimmee-Osceola Chamber of Commerce, at the group's retreat. The resort is looking for the county to chip in about $92 million toward the co...

Gatehouse Capital Breaks Ground on a Privately Financed $600 million Mix Use Development in Hollywood, California; Centerpiece Is the 305-room W Holly

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Gatehouse Capital Breaks Ground on a Privately Financed $600 million Mix Use Development in Hollywood, California;  Centerpiece Is the 305-room W Hollywood Hotel DALLAS--February 12, 2007 - Gatehouse Capital Corp., one of the country’s most innovative real estate investment and development firms, today broke ground on the largest privately financed real estate project in California’s history—the W Hollywood Hotel and Residences. The $600 million, mixed-use project, will transform one of Hollywood’s most famous intersections—Hollywood and Vine—and will be L.A.’s first ever...

Gerhard F.H. Kropp Appointed Regional Vice President of Dusit Hotels & Resorts / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Gerhard F.H. Kropp Appointed Regional Vice President of Dusit Hotels & Resorts  February 2007 - Gerhard F.H. Kropp has been recently appointed as President of Philippine Hoteliers, Inc. (PHI), which is the owning company of Dusit Hotel Nikko Manila, and as Regional Vice President of Dusit Hotels & Resorts.  A German national, Mr Kropp has over 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, his distinguished career spanning association with various international hotels chains, including Hyatt, Six Continents, InterContinental, and The Fullerton Singapore. Immediately prior to join...

White Lodging Only Firm to Submit Proposal to City of Fort Wayne, Indiana for Hotel Within $160 million Downtown Public/Private Development / Februa

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Ryan Lengerich, The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.McClatchy-Tribune Business News Feb. 20, 2007 - The city has let more information about a downtown hotel proposal trickle out to the public, though full details will not be released for weeks. White Lodging Services Corp. of Merrillville, along with Acquest Realty Advisors Inc. of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., submitted the only proposal for a third downtown hotel. The Marriott-branded hotel is a key component in Harrison Square, a $160 million public and private development that...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  “Tourism: America’s Front Door” - Theme for National Tourism Week 2007 WASHINGTON, DC — February 27, 2007 - The Travel Industry Association (TIA) announced that National Tourism Week activities will take place May 12 – 20, 2007 and will be themed “Tourism: America’s Front Door.” The nine-day recognition provides cities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide the opportunity to collectively champion the power of travel.   The theme— “Tourism: America’s Front Door” —illustrates the importance of travel to America’s image and suggests its impact as a leading industr...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Vertical Systems’ FreshStart™ Technology Spells Peace of Mind for Hotel PC Users VSi adds proprietary FreshStart™ security software to its line of business-oriented systems and solutions that benefit both hotels and their business guests  SUNNYVALE, CALIF.— FEBRUARY 1, 2007 — In the increasingly high-tech world of the business traveler, top-notch business hotels have come to understand the necessity of providing their guests with quick, easy and reliable access to the Internet. But what sometimes gets lost in the shuffle as properties strive to provide Internet acc...

Four Seasons Agrees to US $3.8 billion Buyout Offer from Microsoft's Bill Gates and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report Four Seasons Agrees to US $3.8 billion Buyout Offer from Microsoft's Bill Gates and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2007 - Four Seasons Hotels Inc. (TSX Symbol "FSH"; NYSE Symbol "FS") announced today that it has entered into a definitive acquisition agreement to implement the previously announced proposal to take Four Seasons private at a price of US$82.00 cash per Limited Voting Share. Following completion of the transaction, Four Seasons would be owned by affiliates of Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (an entity owned by William H. Gates III), Kingdom Hotels International,...

Insights on Food and Wine Travelers; 17% of American Leisure Travelers Engage in Culinary or Wine-related Activities / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  Special Report  Insights on Food and Wine Travelers; 17% of American Leisure Travelers Engage in Culinary or Wine-related Activities First-Ever Report by Travel Industry Association, Gourmet and International Culinary Tourism Association Identifies, Defines and Profiles Culinary Tourist Segments NEW YORK, NY - February 14, 2007 - A first-of-its-kind national survey on the popular culinary travel niche market shows that 27 million travelers, or 17% of American leisure travelers, engaged in culinary or wine-related activities while traveling within the past three years, based on a new report from...

International Real Estate Firm Hines Developing 289 room Hotel Condo and Conference Center on Lake Grapevine Near DFW; Benchmark Hospitality Will Op

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Steve Brown, The Dallas Morning NewsMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Feb. 14, 2007 - An 18-story hotel and condo tower going up on Lake Grapevine will be the first skyscraper in Flower Mound. Houston developer Hines plans to break ground today on the Lakeside Resort & Residences tower. The high-rise will contain a 289-room, four-star hotel topped by 64 luxury condos on Lakeside Drive. "Yes, the Lakeside Resort & Residences will be the tallest building in Flower Mound," Mayor Jody Smith said. "We look forward to ...

Hotel Developer Robert Falor Suing Nicky Hilton; Alleges Breach of Contract and Deceptive Business Practices / February 2007

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online  News for the Hospitality Executive By Doug Hanks, The Miami HeraldMcClatchy-Tribune Business News Feb. 13, 2007 - The Chicago developer behind Nicky Hilton's planned South Beach hotel is suing the celebrity socialite, claiming the 23-year-old reneged on deals to promote the project and another hotel in Chicago. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Illinois reveals a bitter dispute between developer Robert Falor and Hilton, along with Hilton's manager, Paul Fisher. Falor claims Hilton and Fisher never signed a formal agreement to license his Breakwater and Ediso...

January 30, 2007

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive Seattle's Fairmont Olympic Hotel Ranked Number One Among Fairmont’s 50 Worldwide Hotels - Named 2006 Hotel of the Year Seattle, WA, February 13, 2007 - Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced the Company Award Winners for 2006. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel was recognized for not one, but two prestigious awards, including the coveted 2006 Hotel of the Year. The Hotel of the Year recognizes best overall operating performance excellence with criteria that includes improvement, consistency and achievement in the areas of colleagues, guests, RevPar and EBITDA.  The hotel was also rec...